The Presidency has announced plans to introduce annual retirement honours for staff, in a move aimed at improving welfare and ending what it described as the culture of “silent exits” from public service.
The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, made the announcement on Tuesday during a reception organised for retirees at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the initiative would ensure that public servants who devoted decades of service to the nation are formally recognised and celebrated.
According to Mr. Fashedemi, the retirement honours will be institutionalised and held annually, with the maiden edition accommodating staff who retired several months earlier.
“Your years of quiet service still count, and they will now be celebrated every year going forward,” he said, adding that the programme aligns with ongoing public service reforms under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025.
He urged retirees to remain connected to the State House, noting that their experience and institutional memory remain valuable assets to the service. He encouraged them to mentor serving officers and provide guidance when necessary.
“Your service is valuable. Don’t be strangers. Reach out to your colleagues here whenever necessary,” he said.
Mr. Fashedemi also said staff welfare, recognition, and rewards had become central priorities in public service management. Criticising past practices in which workers left service without any form of acknowledgement, he said: “We must mark exits with gratitude, not indifference. Somebody cannot spend 35 years of their life and just stop showing up as if nothing happened.”
He added that each retiree honoured at the event would receive a tangible gift in appreciation of their service.
“We want to gather as many as possible to celebrate you, and we will ensure everyone goes home with a tangible gift,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Dr. Acho Terungwacalled on Mr. Fashedemi to personally assess conditions at the State House Clinic, saying staff did not enjoy special medical privileges despite public perception.
“Take a first-hand look at the State House Clinic. Go there. If you do that, you can take the State House to the next level at the end of the day,” he said.
Dr. Ngozi Mmamelu, representing the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council of the State House Medical Centre, said the facility had moved beyond its previous challenges, with staff now working collectively to restore its reputation.
“We have moved on from that scenario, and everybody is working together to bring back the glory,” she said, attributing improved service standards and patient experience to the support of Mr. Fashedemi and other senior officials.
Retirees honoured at the event included directors, medical doctors, senior managers, accounts officers, technical staff, health workers, and clinic personnel. Those recognised included Osunkoya Omokehfe, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, Dr. Acho Terungwa, Hassan Abdullahi, Olumide Fasoranti, Obe Bridget, Suleiman Rabi’u, and Edwins Onwanyi.
